For Brendan Gaughan, This Homecoming Like None Before
Las Vegas is Brendan Gaughan Country.
But his fans will have to adjust to his new look this week when Gaughan and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series roll into Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Saturday’s Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350.
In years past, this was a busy week for Gaughan as he staged an open house at his family’s race shop located on the LVMS grounds.
No longer.
For the first time, Gaughan won’t be driving a family-owned truck (or car, for that matter) at his home track. South Point Racing isn’t fielding a team in 2008 and Gaughan is driving Circle Bar Racing’s No. 10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford.
“It will have a little bit different feel but it’s Las Vegas and it’s still my home. It’s still where my family lives so everybody will be at the race,” said Gaughan, who won the truck race in 2003 and a NASCAR Camping World Series West event two years earlier. So far, 2008 isn’t the season Gaughan envisioned. He’s 14th in the points standings with a best finish of third at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Not that he’s putting any pressure on his team but Gaughan naturally wants to improve; and improve this week.“I want to perform at every race every year but if there’s one that (the team) can spend that little bit of extra time massaging the truck and doing little things, this is the one to do it,” he said.
“I really want to win this one.”
Las Vegas First Of Four Intermediate Tracks In Homestretch
With seven races remaining, it can be said that the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has entered its homestretch.
The schedule features a short track, flat mile, superspeedway and four intermediates.
Las Vegas is the first of the 1.5-mile tracks which could play a key role in deciding this year’s champion.
That certainly was the case in the past two seasons. Current leader Johnny Benson (No. 23 Exide Batteries Toyota) was on the threshold of a big points turnaround in 2006 at Atlanta Motor Speedway when leader Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) experienced early problems.
Instead, a broken driveline allowed Bodine to increase his lead and ultimately win the title.
A year ago, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) was motoring to his second championship until his truck shed a wheel. That allowed Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) to overcome a 29-point deficit in the season finale.
What does Las Vegas Motor Speedway have in store for the contenders?
For four who never have won there — Benson, Hornaday, Rick Crawford (No. 14 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) and Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet) — a victory would do nicely as a start. The past nine races have seen nine different winners.
At Las Vegas Motor Speedway
By the numbers, how the current top five in the championship standings have fared at LVMS.
0 Wins by Johnny Benson, Matt Crafton, Rick Crawford and Ron Hornaday Jr.
1 Wins by Todd Bodine.
5 Most top 10s by Hornaday
8.3 Hornaday’s average finish (best)
9 Best finish by Crafton, only driver without a top five at LVMS
Director’s Take: Wayne’s Words
“It’s hard to believe but this is our first trip ‘out west’ since February when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competed at Auto Club Speedway. Seven months and 16 races is a long time and we’re glad to be back for all of the West Coast fans.
“Las Vegas Motor Speedway is one of the first big tracks to come on the schedule in 1996, along with Homestead-Miami Speedway. Everyone was kind of holding their breath when we tested here with trucks that, realistically, were much better suited for short tracks than anywhere with speeds in excess of 160 mph.
“But, we had great races at both intermediate tracks. We didn’t know it at the time, but Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a look into the future of the series. Nineteen of the 25 races now are held on tracks a mile or longer.
“When the series raced here in 1996, the facility was a few hammers and nails short of being completed. But nobody minded, especially with racing legends like Bill Elliott and A.J. Foyt in the field.
“A couple of years ago, the track had the ‘under construction’ sign out again. But this time, the project was much, much bigger. The Neon Garage and other improvements have really kicked Las Vegas Motor Speedway into a higher gear for both the teams and the fans.
“Everyone enjoys their trip to Las Vegas. Some more than others when you factor in luck, or lack thereof, away from the track. Win or lose, all will look back on this week as one of the season’s highlights.”
— Wayne Auton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director.
This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders
(Through 18 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader – Johnny Benson (2,771)
Driver Rating – Ron Hornaday Jr. (117.4)
Laps led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (979)
Victories – Ron Hornaday Jr. (5)
Keystone Light Poles – Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner (3)
Top-five finishes – Johnny Benson (12)
Top-10 finishes – Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner (14)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Colin Braun
Races led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (15)
Weeks in Top 10 – Three drivers with 18
Las Vegas Motor Speedway joined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1996 and has held 11 events. There was no race in 2000. The 1998 Sam’s Town 250 decided the closest championship in series history. Jack Sprague won the race but Ron Hornaday Jr. finished second to claim the title by three points. The track was reconfigured in 2006 with banking in the turns increased from 12 to 20 degrees.
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